290 Astronomy. 
Iv. ASTRONOMY. 
1. Shooting Stars of August 10, 1856.—During the night of Friday, 
August 8th, 1856, the weather at New Haven was stormy. ex 
night on account of the cloudy state of the sky and other obstacles, no 
observation for meteors was attempte us. 
On the night of August 10th—11th, observations were commenced by 
Messrs. Francis Bradley, Charles Tomlinson and myself. Until about half 
one 
aad this time onward, clouds interfered more and more, so that by 2! 
50™ 4, m. of the 11th we left the field. During the period of observation, 
about 3 hours and 45 minutes, we noted two hundred and eighty three — 
different shooting stars, as follows: 
11 5™ to midn, W.N. W. 21 
“ « N. E. 12 
« * 8. 1447 
Midn. to 1 a.m. 11th, W.N. W. 54 
- - ee 27 
" 8. 19———_100 
1 to 2 a.M,, W.N. W. 31 
- 4 N. E. 21 
E Ss. 21——73 
2 to 2 50™ a. M. W.N., W. 23 
* ” N. E, 24 
és ss s. 16——63 
In general characteristics these shooting stars resembled those of the 
August period in former years. The visible paths of a large part of them, 
if traced back, would meet in the vicinity of the sword-handle of Perseus. 
Some moved in other directions, and a few appeared to go ‘towar 
neral radiant. Several of them equalled in brilliancy stars of the first 
magnitude, and left sparkling trains behind them. 
The present being leap-year, it is probable that the meteors were more 
numerous on the night of the 9th-10th, than on the night succeeding. 
Ea 
t is hoped that Mississippi will now make a beginning—the first eat 
ing in the Southern States—to contribute effectually to the 
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